another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,016
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From: sebring florida
another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD!
I know, the column lock issue has been beaten to death and I'm going to try a search but thought I'd run it past you guys first (because you know everything :)). here's the situation: last september my column locked on me and I had the car towed to our dealership (I wasn't a forum member yet and didn't know of the kit) where I instructed them to disable the dang thing. a short WEEK and $450 later(:mad) I had my baby back. this a.m., I get the same "service column lock" message again. it seems obvious (to me anyway) that the column lock was not disabled by the dealership as I instructed. NOW, do I buy the kit and do it myself (car is in my garage, thankfully) or do I hassle the dealership for it? it's their responsibility, right? I just don't want to deal with them EVER again. how difficult is it to install yourself?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 5
From: Knoxville TN
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Red Gump)
First of all why did they charge you $450 for a recalled item? If your car was not covered by the recall, as mine wasn't, the local dealer to mecharged me over $450 for the fix, I called the 800# in the user manual and Chevy sent me a full refund.
If your dealer did the fix, and you still got it, have them refix it, and call the customer service department at Chevy for help
If your dealer did the fix, and you still got it, have them refix it, and call the customer service department at Chevy for help
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Stockbridge GA
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Red Gump)
Check your dealers warranty on repairs. Check the back of your invoice for specific info. An invoice copy I'm reading basically says 12 months or 12K miles warranty for service parts and labor. You should just consider taking it back one more time. The column lock is disabled I believe in an A4 and modified in a MN6. Sounds to me like warranty will cover it unless your mileage has exceeded 12K.
Good Luck...
Good Luck...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Bugster57)
You are not the first...unfortunately...get your money back and find a bypass :smash:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,016
Likes: 0
From: sebring florida
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (3rdtoy)
mine is a 97 and conveniently falls out of the recall range. my search didn't yield much--the bypass kits are no longer sold from what I hear. I tried the turn the wheel on startup trick and that seems to have worked so maybe that's all I need to do. just burns my rump that I got suckered.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Red Gump)
I know, the column lock issue has been beaten to death and I'm going to try a search but thought I'd run it past you guys first (because you know everything :)). here's the situation: last september my column locked on me and I had the car towed to our dealership (I wasn't a forum member yet and didn't know of the kit) where I instructed them to disable the dang thing. a short WEEK and $450 later(:mad) I had my baby back. this a.m., I get the same "service column lock" message again. it seems obvious (to me anyway) that the column lock was not disabled by the dealership as I instructed. NOW, do I buy the kit and do it myself (car is in my garage, thankfully) or do I hassle the dealership for it? it's their responsibility, right? I just don't want to deal with them EVER again. how difficult is it to install yourself?
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Verdi NV
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Fang S-289)
If all fails, the column lock bypass is still stocked by some of the Forum vendors although it is out of production. It takes about 30 minutes to install. It disables the column lock in the retracted position so its guaranteed to work. I have a 2000 covered by the recall but don't trust the recall repair..
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,059
Likes: 0
From: Good Ol' NC
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Jim Weston)
I had the recall performed and occasionally still get the service column lock message but the colum does not lock. From what I was told the recall simply removes the pin on A4 cars so the column cxannot lock. I simply pop open the passenger side footwall fuse box and pull fuse 25 for 30 sec, pop it back in and message is gone and car is fine, this has been working for me so far. You may want to keep a flashlight handy since pulling th efuse will also turn off your interior lights. :seeya
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Red Gump)
My car did the same thing three weeks ago. It has the GM bypass installed which was installed last September. The car is out of warranty but the local Chevy dealership fixed if for free. It took several weeks and they switched out all computers and spent a lot of time talking to GM.
The problem turned out to be a bad ground. These are the technicians comments, "Found short to ground on circuit 1603 DR green wire. Repaired wiring behind center console and replaced ASM. Column lock relay."
If you want I can pass on the delaerships name and the customer service person I dealt with.
Good Luck.
The problem turned out to be a bad ground. These are the technicians comments, "Found short to ground on circuit 1603 DR green wire. Repaired wiring behind center console and replaced ASM. Column lock relay."
If you want I can pass on the delaerships name and the customer service person I dealt with.
Good Luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 850
From: New Jersey
Re: another column lock issue. dealership fix failed. MAD! (Bluevette2000)
The GM "fix" is poor at best, it can still leave you stranded (MN6 cars), plus it defeats a an original safety feature of the original design : The engine is no longer disabled if the lock fails in the locked position - you could theoretically still drive the car without the ability to steer it!! How this got past the GM liability lawyers when the "Fix" was engineered is mind boggeling!
GET A BYPASS!! Thats the only safe fix. Unfortunatly you lose the antitheft feature (of debatable value) of a locked wheel.
GET A BYPASS!! Thats the only safe fix. Unfortunatly you lose the antitheft feature (of debatable value) of a locked wheel.
